The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-08
Jim. THE PENMAN."

"Jim, the Pcnman,y has boon described aS
society mclodmmn." This is far from
accuracy. There is nothing about IL which
sayors Of unreality or cXaggcmtion. Tho
play Is but a successful combination Of Incl.
dents Of everyday life the art OF the drana,.
list being demonstrated in their effective -
rangement. This play has everywhere M
with public favor and Il may be stated rs q
historic fact that no genuinely good play,
having an adequate presentation, ever fails
In this country Naturally the question
arises, What arr the. essentials TO n good
playH In the first place, II must appeal to
the sympathetic contemplation OF the specie
tor. A George sand said Of the novel, II 1t o.,
first be interesting. Il Is not Necessary INA,
the play should relate 10 contcmporaneous
life, nor that Il should deal with social con-
ditions familiar to the audience All will 20
well II the dramatst shall have touched the
spring, Of human nature, for he may rely
upon II that love and avaricc, hate and cour.
agc-all the passion and sentiment that
abide In the hearts Of mon In this day-arc
inherited from the original Adam. and that
such notifications as climate and prosrss-
siye or rctrogrcssiye civilization may Cause
do not operate 10 their oblitcration.
The dramatist Is allowed certain
privilege 81 cxaucmiion. but he must ncv~;
strike a note entirely false. Audiences are
not particularly exacting w far ~ originality
Of plot Is concerned; but they do insist upon
coherent aud logical development, quick
movement picturesque grouping aud con.
trist 81 character. but dmmltist may
blend all these virtues la his work aud yet
fail because of clumsy presentation. Tho
success Of the play called divorce n dozen
years ago, aud later ui Tho Two Orphans"
cxcmplincd the profitable possibilities which
arc the natural Tiicomc 81 foriu-
nate coalition between dmmali,t aud
player Neither play ever failed to draw
when the acton. shovel capacity. The ad.
vcntitious aid of the carpenter aud costumcr
will not popularlzc q ppor play or excuse
| bad acting Sometime there may be- mo.
mcntnry successes because OF an uncducntcd
| hearing but Il u only mumcniary. All
clown. became lat aftorunc had seen George
Fov. and Ihc good play ay certainly tends to
! drive ont the inicrior one ns that bad money
! tends 10 drive better currency oul of circu.
/ lation. Both "Oiyorlr' aud The Two
| Orphans did much 10 correct the dramatic
| taste ~ the public. And both the,
PLAYS wcrr essentially didnrtic. Each
| taught o Lesson. The idea that q moral IL
an unnecessary appendix Ola play ~ wholly
wrong Without y moral there can be NO
motive, and a play without q motive Il sur
| 10 fail. Even IN the hr1idpst comedy tho
dramnti.t must seek AMI lind conclusion
which will satisfy, his hearers, aud this he
cannot do unless he makes his play demon.
uration Of something or other. and that
something or other worthy q denomination
In the most popular oi latter day plays we
Hind hut little attempt NJ fine writing. That
has been left TO tho dmmatis,s Of the old
DAYS. The Frcnchpan. art=ihc art of strik.
ing situations ana development through
lively action 70 such situations has
come 20 be tile controlling influence
In the modern drama. Tho lessons
Of the play arei derived hot from
homiiic, preached by the dmmati.is. but
from the events Of the shifting scenes The
,urpri.rs. the movement aud tile comblna.
ton of attractive chaFacicr are everything
These speak through things done. n,
player breaches byplaying
Aud Jim. tho rcnmnn. Is an admirable
example IT the modern dGmatlc idea most
effectively .ct forth. llcr We find all the
requirements. Thcrc II Intensity with hat.
mony. originality With structural cuupol.c.
! The characters are che tu with rate intcili.
gcncc. each distinctive. each acting In
sonc measure a. foil 10 the other. The
author an Eiglishman. Den, studied tho
Frcnchmhn's art. The text ii Is true. has
not the snap of crlgiim but the play. from
| the method of ~ composition is lack Of
dead weight ~ compaoiur,' aud the conf.
deuce cyinccd n the Intelligence Of the an.
dlrnrc To follow q suggestion. cmbodic, In a
! dsligb,6t da,-ss '""." s-ss,si or.l,i,..